Williamsport teen completes Eagle Scout requirements

WILLIAMSPORT — Kyle Marshall of Williamsport was recently recognized at an awards ceremony for completing his Eagle Scout requirements.

Kyle is the son of Patricia Marshall of Williamsport, and the grandson of Dorothy Barnhart and the late Roy Barnhart Jr. of Hagerstown.

Kyle’s Eagle ceremony began with the color guard from Troop 4 presenting the flags and the national anthem being sung by Kyle’s friend, Paige Wade, from Williamsport High School.

The benediction was read by the pastor of John Wesley United Methodist Church, which sponsors Troop 4. The master of ceremonies was Assistant Scoutmaster Fred Nugent. He spoke to the audience about how the Eagle rank is achieved and what it takes to make it to Scouting’s most coveted award.

Kyle was presented with awards from the Elks Lodge and the Firefighter’s Union. Mike Barnhart from the Elks presented Kyle with a plaque. Recently, in a separate ceremony, Richard Gilbert, a professional firefighter, presented him with a $100 check and a plaque for his accomplishment.

Kyle also received several congratulatory letters.

Kyle was awarded a coin commemorating Scouting’s 100th birthday, which was awarded to every Scout earning the Eagle rank in 2010. He also received a hand-carved treasure box from the Mason-Dixon Council with the Eagle Badge engraved in the top.

Kyle presented his mother with the mentor pin for her guidance through Scouting and told the audience that his mom was there with him the whole time throughout his 10 years in Scouting.

Kyle presented the dad mentor pin to his scoutmaster and stepdad, Mike Kelly. He also presented his grandmother with a crystal bracelet with a silver charm etched with the head of an eagle.

Kyle also recognized his leaders in Cub Scouting during his speech. He thanked his Cub masters, Jay Naise, Jeff Bogar and Bill Yesko, for their excellent guidance. He also thanked his mom, Patty Marshall, who was his Cub Scout leader for five years.

Kyle began in Scouting as a Tiger Cub in Pack 17 in Williamsport. He continued for the next five years, earning all of the belt loops and hat pins that you can earn in Cub Scouting. Kyle also earned the God and Country badge and finished with the Arrow of Light Badge. Kyle crossed over to Boy Scout Troop 4 in Hagerstown.

Kyle earned 42 merit badges and completed his Eagle project at Hagerstown Ice & Sports Complex. The landscaping project took three days to complete. He enlisted the help of 27 Scouts and parents to complete the task.

Kyle attended Camp Sinoquipe each year through Boy Scouts. He also attended Eagle week at Sinoquipe. He was voted into Scouting’s elite group of Order of the Arrow Arroman and one year later earned his Brotherhood in the Order of the Arrow honor society of Scouting. While in Scouts, Kyle held the positions of scribe, assistant patrol leader and patrol leader, and was the senior patrol leader.

He attended camp at Porta Ferry in the Adirondacks in New York state. One of the highlights of his Scouting years was when he attended the World Brotherhood Camporees on the Canadian border and the Thousand Islands in New York.

He thanked Nugent for his guidance and for always pointing him in the right direction when needed.

Kyle also thanked Mike Kelly, his Scoutmaster and stepfather, for always being there for him when he needed a dad’s hand.

Kyle is a senior at Williamsport High School, where he is a member of the Wildcat varsity football team. Kyle has been a member of the varsity tennis team since he was a freshman.

Each of his years of playing tennis, Kyle has advanced to the county finals, and he advanced to the regionals his sophomore year.

Kyle told the audience that he has been blessed throughout his years with excellent coaches when he played soccer, baseball, tennis and football. His favorite coach, Randy Longnecker from Williamsport High School, was in attendance to congratulate him.